BANGALORE: Hoping to restore some lost jobs in the U.S. manufacturing sector, the Oregon State University researchers are developing improved injection molding techniques using a $590,000 grant from Wal-Mart, reports Bennett Hall of Corvallis Gazette-Times.

Out of the four of first seven grants made by Wal-Mart U.S. Manufacturing Innovation Fund, which is a collaboration between the giant retailer and the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the grant have been awarded to projects co-led by Indian American researchers, namely Sundar  Atre, associate professor of industrial and manufacturing, and Rajiv Malhotra, assistant professor of mechanical engineering. Additionally, seven leading U.S. research and development institutions were also awarded $4 million each in awards as part of the U.S. Manufacturing Summit, a Wal-Mart-sponsored event held in Denver.

The three-year grant will support the work of these two Indian-American researchers, who will use the widely used injection modeling that involves pumping melted plastic resins into the empty space between paired metal molds to create a wide variety of products. Additionally, the OSU researchers are working on a different process using less expensive copper, brass or bronze sandwiched between a thin steel skin, than the typically carved solid blocks of tool steel.

Rajiv Malhotra, assistant professor of mechanical engineering said, "Most injection-molding machines are made in China, and most injection molds are also made in China, the reason being the cost of materials and the cost of labor, he further adds, "If something that we do through this grant can make a little bit of a change and create a little bit of jobs that's OK. And if Wal-Mart can improve its image, that's OK too."
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